*Denis Vaughan. Photograph: Eamon Ward
AN ENNISTYMON man has criticised RTÉ over its decision to scrap the long wave 252 service for Radio 1.
At the beginning of April, RTÉ said that LW 252 is no longer sustainable as the transmitter in Summerhill, Co Meath uses up 2.5% of the organisation’s energy use. The current cost is €250,000 a year and this could rise to €400,000 next year.
Plans to cease the service were in motion in 2014 but were postponed because of protests from Irish organisations in Britain. The closure was deferred, initially for three years, but the long wave service will now end on Friday 14 April. Ending the service will also bring a reduction in RTÉ’s carbon emissions, the state broadcaster said. The Summerhill transmitter will be shut down but there are no plans to physically dismantle it.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Denis Vaughan criticised the decision. “The management of RTÉ has not exactly covered itself in glory in recent years. It is behaving like a chastised puppy; grabbing headlines to silence critics. Yes, closing our Long Wave service will provide savings. Of course it will. So could closing the whole station down and starting again. Neither though are the right course. Neither recognise the long term value or the strategic national interest”.
He added, “We made the same mistake with Aer Lingus, let’s not make it again. RTÉ needs to be restored as a national asset and source of pride. It needs to be protected. As do the interests of our diaspora. They have relied heavily on Long wave to keep in touch with developments at home. Of course things have changed; of course there are alternative sources of news but those services are purely commercial ventures that will bow to their masters in the short term. Don’t allow this under-fire, distracted, weakened and fearful management of RTÉ make such a misguided short term decision. Long live Long Wave”.
